WAUSAU — The Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce announced today the finalists for the 2019 Small Businesses of the Year Awards. Sixteen businesses and organizations have been named as finalists.

The Small Business of the Year Award recognizes business growth, community involvement and innovative efforts in the Wausau region and is a part of the 2019 Small Business Week. The recipients of this year’s award will be named at the 2019 Small Business of the Year Awards event, to be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. April 23 at the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Rothschild. The cost for attending this program is $35 online.

According to the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce, the finalists in each of three categories are:

Business-to-Business category: Integra Tool & Manufacturing, Luoma Design Solutions, PC Portal of Wausau

Business-to-Consumer category: Clements Insurance Agency, Glaser Dental, Ruppel Chiropractic, Woodstock Hardwood Flooring & Design Center

Charitable Non-Profit category: Achieve Center, Central Wisconsin Offroad Cycling Coalition, The Family Radio Network, Healthfirst Network, K-Tech Charities, The Open Door of Marathon County, Peaceful Solutions Counseling, Stable Hands, Wausau River District.

The 2019 Small Business Week begins on April 22 with a program on business succession titled ‘Is Your Business Transferable?’ The event will be held presented by Paul Lally of Wipfli LLP from 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. at The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. There is no cost for chamber members to attend this event. The cost is $15 for non-members. Pre-registration is required.

The week of programs and events will continue on April 25, as thousands of business people will assemble at the Business EXPO 2019 at the Central Wisconsin Convention + Expo Center in Rothschild from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Business EXPO, the largest chamber trade show in the state, will feature hundreds of exhibitors. Admission is free with your business card or $10.

The EXPO will be immediately followed by the EXPO Business PM from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites in Rothschild. The EXPO Business PM is one of the region’s largest networking events of the year, offering a unique opportunity to build new business relationships and strengthen existing ones while enjoying food and beverages supplied by various chamber member restaurants, caterers and distributors. Cost is $10 in advance or $20 at the door.

The week will wrap-up with a Small Business of the Year Recognition Ceremony which will be held at 11:30 a.m. on April 26 at City Grill Restaurant & Event Space in Wausau. Each of the 2019 Small Business of the Year recipients will describe their paths to success during this program. The cost for attending this program is $35 online.

For more information on the 2019 Small Business of the Year Awards, including a list of past recipients, or to register for any Small Business Week events, visit the Chamber’s site.